Target receptacles having mechanism to dislodge projectiles tossed therein

ABSTRACT

A target game of the type wherein throwable missiles are aimed at competitive receiving stations with each receiving station mounted on a support for movement between a retracted position and an extended position and characterized by the provision of a latch means for normally holding each receiving station in a retracted position with the latch means being releasable responsive to reception of a playing piece thereon to permit movement of the receiving station to an extended position which dislodges the playing pieces therefrom.

United States Pate 91 Breslow et al. 1 ay 8, 1973 54 TARGET RECEPTACLES HAVING 3,363,899 1/1968 Gross ..273 105 R MECHANISM T0 DISLODGE 3,506,266 4/1970 Wintersteen.... .273/105 R PROJECTILES TOSSED THEREIN 3,561,761 2/1971 Klemma ..273/l02.l C

[751 Inventors: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago; Eugene Jaworski, Park Ridge, both of I11.

Marvin Glass & Associates, Chicago, Ill.

22 Filed: Jan. 14, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 217,8 1

[73] Assignee:

[52] US. Cl. ..273/102.l C, 273/1021 G, 124/7,

51 1111.0. ..A63b 71/02 58 Field of Search .273/95 R, 102 R, 273/102 S,102.1R,102.1 0,102.10,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gilbertson ..273/l02.1 G

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind AttorneyJames F. Coffee et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A target game of the type wherein throwable missiles are aimed at competitive receiving stations with each receiving station mounted on a support for movement between a retracted position and an extended position and characterized by the provision of a latch means for normally holding each receiving station in a retracted position with the latch means being releasable responsive to reception of a playing piece thereon to permit movement of the receiving station to an extended position which dislodges the playing pieces therefrom.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TARGET RECEPTACLES HAVING MECHANISM TO DISLODGE PROJECTILES TOSSEI) THEREIN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices and more particularly to a target-type game.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Pertinent U.S. Pats. known to the applicant include the following: Yokoi, No. 3,564,756; Winterstein, No. 3,506,266; King, No. 3,398,957; Lukes, No. 3,398,956; Lion, No. 3,391,934.

Generally speaking, these patents disclose the concept of a target-type game having components which are released or launched responsive to the reception of a missile-type element upon the component.

Basic target-type games have been well known and appreciated because of their simplicity in execution and understanding. Competitive-type games are even further desirable in that participants simultaneously seek to test their skill at aiming or directing their missile or the like at certain defined areas.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved target-type game of the competitive variety wherein the game features the further element of one participant being able to eliminate the other participants successful occupation of certain target areas through the successful maneuver of the one participant launching his missile into a defined area related to the other participants receiving area which will dislodge the successfully launched missiles of the other participant from his receiving area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved target-type game wherein competitive skill is involved.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a housing having at least a pair of swingable arms thereon, to which are connected cup-like receptacles for receiving bean bag-type missiles or playing pieces. The arms are normally biased for movement to an upright or dislodging position, but are held in the retracted or receiving position by latch means which are associated with a depressable button which extends through an opening in the housing. During the play of the game, participants seek to occupy all of their receptacles on their respective receiving stations but one participant may upset the other participants receiving station by successfully launching a playing piece so that it strikes the button controlling the latch holding the other participant's receiving station in the retracted position,

permitting release of it to the extended position whereby the bean bags held in the receptacles will be dislodged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the target game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing, in detail, the arrangement between the latch means and a portion of the receiving arm of the game of this inventron.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game 10 of this invention includes a plurality of missile-like game pieces Ill, here shown in the preferred form of bean bags, or the like, and a base or support 12. The base or support 12 is preferably made of a suitably rigid plastic, or the like, and includes pairs of side walls 14 and end walls 16 which support a top 18.

Top 18 is provided with a pair of forward openings 20a and 20b and rear openings 22a and 22b. In addition, upstanding brackets 24a and 24b are positioned adjacent rear openings 22a and 22b.

One end of the base 12 has an upright housing 26 which is defined by spaced side walls 28, end walls 30 and enclosed by top 32. Top 32 has a pair of spaced openings 34a and 34b therethrough.

The game further includes a plurality of sets of playing piece receivers including a pair of receiver arms 36a and 3612 having legs 38a and 38b, respectively, through which pivot pins 401: and 40b, respectively, pass to swingably or pivotably connect the arms 36a or 36b with respect to the base or support 12. It is to be understood that while this one mode of movable connection has been shown, it is contemplated that other modes of connection would be within the scope of this invention, such as the mounting of the arms 36a and 36b so that they would rotate about an axis co-extensive with their length. Springs 42 are connected, at one end, to a bracket 44 which depends from the underside of housing 12. At the other end each spring 42 is connected to each leg 38a and 38b and thereby normally urges or biases the arms 36a and 36b to an extended or dislodging position as shown with respect to arm 36b in FIG. I.

The receivers or receiving arms 36a and 36b are provided with a plurality of playing piece receiving stations thereon, here shown in the preferred embodiment as the cups or receptacles 46, which are tandem oriented in a group of four on each arm 36a and 36b, and are of a size and shape to generally receive the playing pieces or bean bags 11. Each receiving arm 36a and 36b has a downwardly extending leg 48a and 48b which extends through the openings 20a and 20b in the base 12 and terminates in a transversely extending tongue 50a and 50b.

The game is further provided with a latch means 52 for normally holding the arms 36a and 36b in a retracted, playing piece receivingposition, relative to the support 12, as shown with respect to arm 36a. The latch means 52 includes an L-shaped arm 54 associated with each arm 36a and 36b, having two transverse subportions 54a and 54b, with the upright subportion 54a extending through each of the openings 34a and 34b in the housing portion 26. Each subportion 54a terminates in a playing piece receiving portion or buttonlike end 56.

Subportion 54b of arm 54 is connected with pivot pin 58 that extends through depending brackets 60 on the underside of the housing top 18 to swingably mount the arm 54 with respect to the housing. The subportion 54b terminates in an overhanging lip 62 which is positioned to engage the tongue 50a and 50b of the arms 36a and 36b to hold the arms in the retracted position against movement upwardly relative to the base 12. Means are provided for holding the latch means 52 in a condition to restrain movement of the arms 36a and 36b and this means is shown in the preferred form of an elastic band 64 wrapped about arm subportion 54b and also about finger 66, which projects inwardly from the interior of upright wall 30 so as to normally urge the L-shaped arm 54 upwardly with respect to the housing 26 and the openings 34a and 34b.

To play the game, opposing pairs or teams of players, stand a given distance away from the base 12 and attempt to throw their respective bean bags 11 so as to deposit one bag in each of the receptacles 46. However, if one team is less successful of executing this maneuver than the other team, the one team may attempt to aim their bean bags 11 towards the button 56 of the L-shaped lever arm 54 which restrains the other teams receiving arm. If the bean bag 11 is successfully launched, so as to engage the button 56, the latch 52 will be pivoted about pin 58 and the lip 62 will swing clear of the tongue 50 and thereby permit the spring 42 to exert its biasing force and swing the L-shaped arm 54 upwardly about its pivot 58 as shown with respect to arm 36b in FIG. 1.

Thus, it can be seen that the game of this invention provides an extension of the concept of a target game of a competitive nature in that, not only may contestants compete to see which one can first land his missiles in all the target areas required, but further, each contestant has an opportunity to eliminate his opponents successes towards this end by dislodging his opponents successfully thrown missiles from their target areas. Therefore, the game affords the advantage of not only simultaneous competitive activity towards a goal, but further, the element of suspense of one opponent not knowing when the other opponent may eliminate the one opponents gains.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for cleamess of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A game device comprising:

a plurality of throwable playing pieces;

means defining a support;

a plurality of sets of playing piece receivers connected to said support, each receiver having plural playing piece receiving stations thereon;

each receiver being movably mounted to said support for movement between a retracted, playing piece receiving position to an extended, playing piece ejecting position, wherein any playing pieces on said receiving station are dislodged relative thereto;

releasable latch means on said support engageable with each of said receivers to hold said receivers in the retracted position, said latch means being mounted to said support for activation responsive to receipt of a playing piece thereon to release engagement with an associated receiver and permit movement of said receiver to the extended position.

2. The game device of claim 1 wherein said playing piece receivers comprise arms swingably mounted to the support.

3. The game device of claim 1 wherein said playing piece receiving station comprises receptacles on said receivers.

4. The game device of claim 1 wherein said latch means is mounted to said housing for to-and-fro movement between a locking position, wherein said receivers are retained in the retracted position, and a release position wherein said receivers are permitted to move to the extended position.

5. The game device of claim 4 wherein said latch means is normally biased to a locking position and said receiver arms are normally biased to an extended position with said latch means being responsive to displacement thereof to move the latch means away from the locking position and permit movement of the receiver arms to the extended position. 

1. A game device comprising: a plurality of throwable playing pieces; means defining a support; a plurality of sets of playing piece receivers connected to said support, each receiver having plural playing piece receiving stations thereon; each receiver being movably mounted to said support for movement between a retracted, playing piece receiving position to an extended, playing piece ejecting position, wherein any playing pieces on said receiving station are dislodged relative thereto; releasable latch means on said support engageable with each of said receivers to hold said receivers in the retracted position, said latch means being mounted to said support for activation responsive to receipt of a playing piece thereon to release engagement with an associated receiver and permit movement of said receiver to the extended position.
 2. The game device of claim 1 wherein said playing piece receivers comprise arms swingably mounted to the support.
 3. The game device of claim 1 wherein said playing piece receiving station comprises receptacles on said receivers.
 4. The game device of claim 1 wherein said latch means is mounted to said housing for to-and-fro movement between a locking position, wherein said receivers are retained in the retracted position, and a release position wherein said receivers are permitted to move to the extended position.
 5. The game device of claim 4 wherein said latch means is normally biased to a locking position and said receiver arms are normally biased to an extended position with said latch means being responsive to displacement thereof to move the latch means away from the locking position and permit movement of the receiver arms to the extended position. 